Keep Pressing On

I press on​ toward the goal for the prize

​  
of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus

- Philippians 3:14

What Uncle John Said

3/26/2013

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 [Uncle John is a 90 year old man in our church who loves Jesus, is full of infectious joy and has Alzheimer's. Although he doesn't remember me from week to week, he recognizes me as the minister and has a word of encouragement to give me when I greet him after the service.  What he says, I always need to hear.  I've taken to writing it down so I'm encouraged throughout the week.  I share it with you here]...

Sunday, March 24.  "Keep on, keep on, keep on.   Keep on ministering the word.  God is with you always, he will never leave you, he will never forsake you."  - Uncle John 
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Are You Truly Committed to Your Church?

3/23/2013

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Dan Reiland, in his book Shoulder to Shoulder has this to say about church commitment...
Commitment is a fragile thing....When the Padres do well, the fans show up; when the Padres don't do so well, the stadium is nearly empty.  Sometimes as I look at church attendance in sanctuaries I wonder if something similar is going on.  People will call in and ask what the sermon title is to make a decision whether or not they will attend church that morning.  Some folks sleep in because they were out late the night before.  Church members sometimes withhold their tithe to demonstrate that they are unhappy with something.  
How committed to your church are you?  Your church needs you to help it become better.  Commitment is necessary for your own spiritual growth as well as the growth of your church.  Your pastor needs your commitment and support in order to fulfill the Great Comission of Matthew 28 - to go and make disciples.     - Shoulder to Shoulder, p. 53

AN EXERCISE:  Make two lists.  On the first, list activities, in order of priority from top to bottom that  you never miss, that you'd get up early for and stay up late for (work and school would be on this list).  On the second list write down those activities you would participate in depending on your mood, how you feel or if other opportunities didn't present themselves (going to a movie, dinner, etc.).  

NOW BE HONEST (no one is watching:) Which list is church on?   How high or low is it on the list? If the church is the body of Christ, what does this reveal about your commitment to Christ? Have you fallen out of love with Jesus?  Ask God to forgive you, He will (1 John 1:9).  Repent and return to the right priority of Christ first in everything (Revelation 2:4-5)
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Prayer is Work

3/12/2013

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Prayer is work.  It requires commitment, it requires time, it drains us, it is necessary to provide spiritually for ourselves, our families and our church.  It is both commanded and expected by our Boss (Jesus), to not pray is to be an unfaithful employee.  

Prayer is supernatural work.  Physical work rewards us with a paycheck (or direct deposit), sense of a job well done, promotion, praise and that internal joy that comes from checking off an item from our "to do" list.  The supernatural work of prayer does not reward us in any of these ways.  The reward of prayer requires faith.  We'll get the job done if we believe God is present when we pray, if we are confident that He hears us and we trust He will answer.  We are encouraged to pray when we realize there is no hope for our burdens without prayer (this is being forced to our knees).  We show up to pray when we are confident that  our prayers will make a difference in the eternity of others, in the situations we bring to God and even at highest levels of power in our world ("Pray for kings..." 1 Timothy 2:2).   

The reward of prayer is the tiredness that comes after pouring out our hearts to God, the peace that results from giving our burdens to Him and the joy that is present when we know we have obeyed our Lord.   The hope of the Christian mission in this world depends on prayer.  Christian, its time to show up to work and get to work.
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    I can plod. I can persevere in any definite pursuit. To this I owe everything.
    ​
     - William Carey

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    My name is Tim Kirkes.  I am honored to be the a child of my heavenly Father, the husband of Lisa, the father of two boys and the pastor of San Dimas Wesleyan church.

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